Stepping Out!

[Auvergne]

A timely reminder to you all to check your steps as I had an accident Friday night when stepping out of the van. My steps quite literally collapsed and I was sent sprawling, bruising my ankle and hurting my back. I spent the evening with my ankle elevated and wrapped in towels and ice blocks and was very shocked by the fall.

You will see by the attached photos that the steps are neither old nor rusty and allegedly comply to BS EN14183. We bought them approximately two years ago and are only weekend campers so they have hardly been over utilised. I know I'm no lightweight (12.5 stone) but I can't believe how the rivet has sheared off and the frame twisted to such an extent. A more elderly caravanner could have come off far worse, so please take care.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v396/TigzPics/P1040029.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v396/TigzPics/P1040028.jpg

 

[Auvergne]

p.s. how do I get the photos to appear on here instead of showing just the link please?

 

[DeliDave]

its a state secret.No one will tell me either,most forum sites I have been on have an instruction but not this one.Perhaps it wont take the strain of loads of photos.The steps problem is very worrying,have thought of fitting a double electric folding step from CAK tanks when my warranty is up as it looks like I will have to drill the floor to fix it.On the bright side at least you are not in hospital

 

[Nidge1]

Hi,

Your photos do show a twisted mangled wreck of a step. Very worrying and I hope you are OK and on the mend.

To be fair they do look cheap and not of a very sturdy construction.

To view Valerie's photos - highlight the link and copy/paste to your browser. Worked for me and I am no computer buff by any means.

Regards

Nidge

 

[Nidge1]

Hi,

Your photos do show a twisted mangled wreck of a step. Very worrying and I hope you are OK and on the mend.

To be fair they do look cheap and not of a very sturdy construction.

To view Valerie's photos - highlight the link and copy/paste to your browser. Worked for me and I am no computer buff by any means.

Regards

Nidge

Sorry Valerie, I misunderstood your request. Another senior moment!!!!

Nidge

 

[Countrylass]

Thanks Valerie

Our steps look similar but my husband has just checked and ours are welded not riveted but we'll be taking care.

 

[Parksy]

I posted on another part of the forum how to post photos onto PCv the other day but its no secret so I'll repeat my instructions.

Open a free photobucket account and set your account to 'private' from the available settings.

Upload your photograph to photobucket by following their instructions and select the photo size to small or medium at the most.

Hover your mouse pointer over the picture that you wish to post and a drop down box should appear.

Copy the HTLM code ( third one down)and paste it into the 'submit forum message' box for this forum.

Add text if you wish and submit

 

[Auvergne]

Trying again then, hope this works...

 

[JTQ]

valerie;

Just returned from a dealers in Salisbury and noted what appears to be your type of steps; complete with the EN label.

The cross stays are now welded into the rear legs in a much more robust method of construction.

You have a concrete case to get yours replaced free of charge by your dealer as the maker has all but accepted by making such a change that the way they were made is not fit for purpose. Importantly this is a safety issue not a simple durability or wear and tear issue.

If the supplying dealer will not play ball go to the maker/importer and reference this web site. If neither is co-operative then Trading Standards.

These are durable goods and so ought to be safe way beyond any warranty period.

 

[Martin24]

look the same as mine so off out to the drive to check them NOW

 

[Martin24]

look the same as mine so off out to the drive to check them NOW

Just checked mine, about 5 years old and they are welded not rivetted. I also see that the production team, inspector and manufacture date are on a label on the underside

 

[Auvergne]

Can you tell me who the manufacturers are please? Our label gives very limited info, merely that they comply to BS etc. I would like to write to them, I don't think I'd want the steps replaced - I think we are going to have a look at the Milenco ones - its just that they are so dangerous.

 

[Guest]

I made my own with 100 mm wide fully screw adjustable pivoting feet. I can't remember how old they are but they'll never fall apart

 

[Martin24]

Can you tell me who the manufacturers are please? Our label gives very limited info, merely that they comply to BS etc. I would like to write to them, I don't think I'd want the steps replaced - I think we are going to have a look at the Milenco ones - its just that they are so dangerous.

Just had a look adn there is no further info on the steps, I have to say I'm not quite sure where we got them.

 

[Paul_5064559]

Valerie,

I was interested in your post as my wife had potentially a serious fall about 4 years ago. In this case she slipped on what was a wet step early morning falling backwards onto the step. In her case it was a combination of wet step and sloping pitch.

My first comment is to agree with an earlier post that suggested you had redress on your supplier and I would suggest that the term "Fit for purpose" comes into play where quite obviousley this product would not qualify.

Secondly looking at your photo's the height of your step appears to exceed the width and in my opinion I find this to be a design fault, I do not feel any step can be so out of proportion and be safe. I believe a safe step should be wider than its height. Its all very well it being stable in the shop on level ground but many pitches can be on sloping, uneven and sometimes soft ground which can result in a wobble when your weight arrives sometimes with disatrous consequences and if you have ever seen a loved one flying through the air in such an incident I am sure more care would be excercised when purchasing what on the face of is is a mundane item yet so fundamentally important to life and limb.

Hope you'r OK now..

 

[bev2]

We've just bought another set of steps today as I still can't walk properly since breaking my leg falling off our steps in July. The new ones are aluminium with 2 steps. It was raining when we got back and tested them out and we discovered they are slippery when wet despite having a patterned surface. We are wondering what we could use to make them non-slip.

 

[MikeJE]

I had the same slippery problem with new steps so cut a rubber door mat, the kind with lots of rubber dimples or fingers, to fit the treads then pop rivited them to the upper surface of the steps but first smearing the treads with plenty of impact adhesive. Still needs care in icy conditions but invert the steps and a sharp tap on a hard surface shakes any ice loose.

 

[DeliDave]

We have the aluminium type of steps and got some antislip tape from Screwfix,http://www.screwfix.com/prods/13238/Sealants-Adhesives/Tapes/Hazard-Marking-Tapes/Safety-Tread-Tape-25mm-5m

It has stayed on for about 3 years now,we loosened the screws to the tread and tucked the ends under then tightened the tread up.